International news

Protesters demand new election in Russia

Opposition leaders hope to derail Vladimir Putin’s presidential bid

By

KateGibson

Reuters

A protester wears a mask of Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at a rally in Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square on Saturday to protest alleged violations in the parliamentary elections.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — Russians on Saturday demonstrated by the tens of thousands in Moscow and other cities to demand a full recount or another parliamentary election because of alleged fraud in the past week’s voting this past Sunday, according to media reports.

Reuters

Policem detain an activist Saturday during a rally in St. Petersburg.

Taking a less-authoritarian stance than in the past, authorities granted permits for many of Saturday’s protests, which had tens of thousands gathering in a square across the river from the Kremlin, with 17,000 police standing by, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The three-hour gathering concluded peacefully, unlike demonstrations earlier in the week that had police detaining hundreds, the Journal said.

Observers called the protests the largest against the government in at least a decade, although there was no indication that the Kremlin would consider any of the opposition’s demands.

A Putin referendum?

(5:09)

Matt Kaminski on how much of a setback Russia's parliamentary elections may be for Vladimir Putin.

Opposition leaders said the would hold further demonstrations this month in an effort to disrupt Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s chances in March presidential elections.

In the Dec. 4 election, Putin’s ruling United Russia party held a majority in parliament, although saw its support fall steeply. The vote involved reports of widespread stuffing of ballot boxes and other abuses.

Putin is widely rumored to be ready to seek a return to the presidency he held from 2000 until 2008, when term limits forced him from office. Putin’s handpicked successor, Dmitry Medvedev, already has said he will step aside for Putin rather than seek a second term.

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